A butterfly finally!!!!

This Sunday Jeff had to work and I was on my own to get the girls ready for  church.  We NEVER make it to church on time.  So I was especially excited that they were getting their shoes on (the last step before we load up) 20 minutes before service began.  We were going to make it on time by golly!  Then, I got a little side tracked.  As I put a few dishes in the sink I noticed that our cacoon in the bug cage had just hatched into a butterfly!!!!! This was soooo exciting for us. 

You see every year we collect the little buggers and they hatch into tiny little brown moths.  So disappointing.  This year I decided we had to catch a different type of caterpillar to have any shot at it turning into a butterfly.  One day we saw these big black caterpillars crawling around and they had what looked like sharp little black spikes.  The kids were intially scared to touch the caterpillars because of these spikes, so I took the plunge and touched them first.  I was a little nervous about those spikes too, to be honest. We discovered they looked worse than they felt. They were actually soft.  So we got out the old bug cage and waited for the cacoon to be built.  It only took a day.  Then we waited for two weeks.  During that time, I picked up the cage a couple times and looked.  I knew that little bugger was still alive in that cacoon because if I disturbed him too much the whole cacoon would wiggle with life.  It was so sci-fi.  I wondered where he was in his development to be able to protest my handling of his cage while still in the cacoon so much.

Anyhoo....the butterfly that emerged was not the prettiest thing I ever saw, but he was much better than a moth.  He had a little yellow and blue inside his wings, but I was unable to get a pic of that as his wings were still wet and floppy and he didn't have much control over them when I photoed him.  We had to go to church so we couldn't wait around for him to dry off and I didn't want to leave him in the bug cage because it was almost too little for the big butterfly he had become.

Needless to say, it was exciting and I have a feeling God will give us a free pass this time on being late to church again.  I'm sure he enjoyed watching us marvel at his new little creation. 

  

Gifted?

If you keep up with me you know I have suspected Kadyn is gifted.  Today I got a letter saying she scored in the 95% on her standardized tests.  They would like to further testing to see if she qualifies as gifted.  The test she would be taking is called the Screening Assessment for Gifted Elementary Students or (SAGES).  Should she score a 100 or higher (and I have no idea how high those scores go), then she will be asked to come back for further IQ testing this summer.  What was interesting to me is that her scores for the SAGES test will be remain in effect until the end of her second grade year.  If she qualifies to do further IQ testing the scores she makes on those tests will remain in effect until the end of her fourth grade year.  Wowsa!

I have heard proponents for and against having a child in the gifted program.  Proponents argue that their gifted children need to be challenged so they do not become bored in school and can reach their full potential.  I think I lean this direction.  I was very concerned that K would be bored in school going in as I came to realize pretty quickly that she wasn't performing at the same rate as many of her peers. I figured this out after working with my daycare kids.  There was no comparison.  She just picked things up so quickly and I could take her so far.  It was exciting working with her because of that so I just kept feeding her more information as the years went by.  I am so proud to have fostered a huge love of learning in her. 

Opponents argue that putting that label on your child, "gifted" can put undue pressure on them to perform at a certain level and cause stress.  For some it could make children feel as though they are "better" than other peers.  I must say, I certainly don't want K to feel any "better" than other children; maybe different, not better.  I just want her to understand God gave her a beautiful mind and she needs to use it to it's fullest.  I also don't want K to feel overwhelmed or like she is a failure if she doesn't live up to a certain standard as a gifted student.  So....I get this argument. 

However, when I weigh the pros and cons, it just seems wrong to waste such a great mind.  I want to see her grow and flourish; if she is identified as gifted, I want to make sure she is given material that will keep her on a path of growth so she can reach her full potential.  Of course I'm totally jumping the gun here.  She hasn't even taken her SAGES yet.  But these are things I have to consider before I even allow them to test her.

I was never tested to be gifted, and I don't think I was gifted.  I did take advanced placement English when I was in high school.  Things didn't always come easy to me. I really had to work at them.  I made straight A's in school but it was because I worked my butt off.  Jeff on the other hand, he tested gifted, but was never put into the gifted program.  He did take several advanced placement courses.  He had a great mind, but his grades didn't reflect that (meaning not straight As) because he didn't work for it.  He didn't do his homework but he aced his tests.  He figured, he knew the material well enough to ace the tests, why bother with the homework?  This scares me.  I want my kids to have a good work ethic in school and I think being challenged with the material presented to them is an important step to making sure they work hard.

So anyways, it will be interesting to see what comes of these tests.  I know several of my friends have gone through the gifted program. I would love to hear about your experiences good and bad and your thoughts.  Just want to educate myself so I know what might be in store for my little angel.

Toothless wonder

Kadyn is at a grand total of two lost teeth.  I love her new smile!

May Day 2012

I have posted a lot about this on facebook, but blogging for my own records.  As a child I was introduced to the tradition of May Day by my sweet neighbors Aimee McLendon/Smith and Sarah Madgwick/Smith.  My mother never really got into the tradition but my sister and I really did love opening the door to a basket of goodies with no one to be found behind it. 

This year K and B seemed like the perfect age to start this tradition with and it just so happened we have a little girl their age across the street.  So the night before we sat down and made our basket (actually I made it with minimal help from K).  The girls were SOOOO excited.  When I put them down that night K said, "You're the best mom ever!"  Sigh!

The next day they had a lot of fun delivering it.  Check it out for yourself.  My favorite part was watching them high tail it home so not to get caught.  I heart May Day!

Dropping it off.  Sorry hard to see the girls.  I made Bren just watch from the driveway as I was scared she'd trip and fall down the stairs in the excitement of scurrying away quickly.

Hurry!  Hurry!  Don't let her see you.

Unfortunatley, even though I spoke with our neighbor girl's mother before doing this activity, a May Day basket did not end up on our door step.  No worries!  Our girls didn't care.  They had more fun delivering it anyways.

Have you ever?

Have you ever just felt like you didn't deserve to have it good?  Like you didn't deserve to have what you want?  I have.  Today in fact.  One of my clients informed me today that her son will not be in my care next school year.  His new baby brother was also supposed to fill my big guys spot when he starts school.  That leaves two spots of the three unfilled.  I went through a wide range of emotions.  First, relief.  Little man has been a handful this year.  He is going through a hitting phase, stealing toys, pushing, etc.  He is constantly sick and is responsible for the bulk of the illness that was passed through our house.  I also learned his baby brother was a fussy one.  I didn't know if I had it in me to do another infant, especially another difficult one.  So I felt a huge sense of relief.

Shortly after that emotion kicked in I felt, the "oh no" emotion.  Oh no, what if I can't replace him with someone decent?  What if I get someone with more problems (been there, done that)?  What if I get someone who's parents are difficult to work with or have marital issues (been there, done that)?  Finding good clients in our town is very difficult to do.  Oh no, what if we start struggling financially?  Oh no.  Oh no!

Then I had the feeling of, "Wow wouldn't it be nice to just watch one little girl and Bren together and that's it?'  The places we could go. The things we could do.  More time for me to be with my daughter instead of dealing with the needs and problems of others; I have often felt that the kids I watch always have more behavioral problems and needs than my own children.  Anyhow, I could actually get a break during nap time with two kids.  I might actually be wrapped up by 4:30 each day instead of 6.  Wow!  That would be so nice.  That would mean I could actually take K to soccer practice and make a quick trip to the store before supper if I forgot something.  That would be ideal.  But....that sounds too good to be true.  So good in fact, I don't deserve that kind of happiness.  (insert screeching tire sound).  What?  Where did that feeling come from?

Then came feelings of guilt.  If God actually made that happen for me (meaning I couldn't fill the spot and was just left with the two girls), then I would assume it was his will. I would assume he is going to provide where my funding falls short.  I know I could trust that he will do that if that is the case, but I also know my husband would stress out about it.  What he feels I feel.  I can't help it.  We are one.  That would....suck!  Here I would be enjoying my life as a mother and daycare worker of one and there he would be stressing about making ends meet.  Oh the guilt!  Like I don't deserve that happiness if it costs my husband being insecure. 

So anyways, for now I am not filling the spots.   I had planned on having only two daycare kids this summer as the little boy who will be leaving me was going to be gone this summer anyways since his mother is a teacher.  I was looking forward to that lighter load.  I will still be watching 4 children, but one will be Kadyn and she's cake compared to the daycare kids.  I feel entitled to enjoy my summer as I had originally planned and Jeff is OK with this decision.

When the school year nears, I will begin searching.  Jeff feels comfortable with me only replacing one spot instead of the two that will be open come August.  That will mean three children (including Bren) to watch daily instead of the four that I watch now.  That should make outings MUCH easier.  I have decided I will only open it up to ages one and up.  Just can't do another infant.  Not now that I have the ability to get out with the kids.  Things will be so much easier with children who can walk and don't have to nap at all hours of the day.  So filling that spot could take awhile. If that spot is not filled, I just pray that the Lord will sustain us, give us confidence and trust in his will, and calm our hearts that everything will be OK.  Oh the roller coaster we ride called life! Sigh!

Summer List

Because of my newfound freedom of leaving the house and getting my big girl home all summer, I have a big desire to live it up this summer.  Here is my list so far:

1.  Water balloon fight
2.  Sprinkler play
3.  kitty pool
4.  Have a picnic
5.  Play with play dough
6.  Read a chapter book
7.  Feed the ducks at the landing
8.  Fly a kite
9.  Bubbles
10.  Camp in a tent in our yard
11.  Go fishing
12.  Swim, swim, swim (at the beach and aquaplex
13.  Water gun fight
14.  zoo 

Am I missing anything?

Challenging

Well I've been out and about two days in a row now with the kiddos.  It has been so liberating!  It is a lot of work and I feel like I need double sets of eyes and arms (the 1 and 2 year olds need constant supervision on the equipment), but I manage.  Thankfully, the playground has been pretty empty so far so I don't have to worry about stranger danger or bigger kids running over my little kids (one of my big pet peeves)

I can tell the biggest obstacle is going to be the parent's schedules.  Yesterday I had one child not show until noon (thankfully we made it back in time).   Another kid didn't show today until 10:00.  Before these late arrivals were refreshing because it meant a little break for me, now they are a real bummer, because it means I'm stuck at home until they show up; I really don't want to miss story times at church because of late arrivals.  This will also be a bigger problem when it starts getting really hot as we will have to make these trips much earlier in the morning to beat the heat.  Afternoons are nap times and therefore, getting out then is really out of the question.  Plus, pick up times can kind of be staggered too so I have to be home with the kids for their individual pick up times.  Sigh!  Just can't win.  Trying to stay positive because I have the ability to get out now.  Just wish it didn't have to be this difficult to schedule it in.